Dmitry Lebedev is the Deputy for Niveri and previously served as First Deputy Prime Minister of Polasciana as well as Minister for Defence and Disaster Relief amongst other executive positions
The tragic events that took place this week should be a wake-up call for the government. At every election since 2003, the nationalist vote has increased in share. Yet, politicians have been slow to react. Since leaving the executive cabinet at the end of last year, I have been thinking carefully about what contribution I can best make in the year ahead. To me, there is no more important job than taking on the nationalists – because it was obvious and inevitable that something like this, the horrific scenes on our borders on Wednesday, would happen one day. And it has happened because we have failed to take the fight to people like my predecessor as Deputy Prime Minister, Alexei Sukhorukov – on his rhetoric, fiction and friends. Whilst it may be too late for some of our communities, we must mount a serious fightback – now.
My former colleagues may feel they have a license to use incendiary language – but the consequences are clear. More so, they could not be more devastating. The fact that 38 people lost their lives in this latest flare up in violence is a reality that the nationalists cannot hide from. They are the ones that have led us to this point and they must take responsibility. Our nation’s history is chequered with terrorism, but our politics must not and never be ever again. It is a line that cannot be crossed. Using aggressive and radicalising language and statements does not help – and Alex, and his party, need to stop claiming that divisions between our communities are growing. It is not the case.
Leaving government, I made the decision that I would stand up for what I believe is right – but above all, I would stand up for honesty and integrity in politics. That is why I resigned – I felt someone needed to take responsibility for the Coalition falling to its lowest share of the vote in a national election. Watching the attacks unfold, I felt the same responsibility to speak out. That is why I am calling on the nationalist movement to come in from the outside, and act responsibly and respectfully. No citizen of this nation is the enemy – the only enemy we have are the terrorists who seek to attack our citizens precisely because of the progress we have made as a nation.
If we continue to let nationalist rhetoric grow without challenge, the country will continue to pay the price. I would welcome every citizen and politician to join me this year in ensuring that our nation’s future is bright, future-focused and prosperous. We will only achieve that if we come together, not pull apart in the face of adversity.
The government failed on the Nationalists and the country paid the price
Dmitry Lebedev is the Deputy for Niveri and previously served as First Deputy Prime Minister of Polasciana as well as Minister for Defence and Disaster Relief amongst other executive positions
The tragic events that took place this week should be a wake-up call for the government. At every election since 2003, the nationalist vote has increased in share. Yet, politicians have been slow to react. Since leaving the executive cabinet at the end of last year, I have been thinking carefully about what contribution I can best make in the year ahead. To me, there is no more important job than taking on the nationalists – because it was obvious and inevitable that something like this, the horrific scenes on our borders on Wednesday, would happen one day. And it has happened because we have failed to take the fight to people like my predecessor as Deputy Prime Minister, Alexei Sukhorukov – on his rhetoric, fiction and friends. Whilst it may be too late for some of our communities, we must mount a serious fightback – now.
My former colleagues may feel they have a license to use incendiary language – but the consequences are clear. More so, they could not be more devastating. The fact that 38 people lost their lives in this latest flare up in violence is a reality that the nationalists cannot hide from. They are the ones that have led us to this point and they must take responsibility. Our nation’s history is chequered with terrorism, but our politics must not and never be ever again. It is a line that cannot be crossed. Using aggressive and radicalising language and statements does not help – and Alex, and his party, need to stop claiming that divisions between our communities are growing. It is not the case.
Leaving government, I made the decision that I would stand up for what I believe is right – but above all, I would stand up for honesty and integrity in politics. That is why I resigned – I felt someone needed to take responsibility for the Coalition falling to its lowest share of the vote in a national election. Watching the attacks unfold, I felt the same responsibility to speak out. That is why I am calling on the nationalist movement to come in from the outside, and act responsibly and respectfully. No citizen of this nation is the enemy – the only enemy we have are the terrorists who seek to attack our citizens precisely because of the progress we have made as a nation.
If we continue to let nationalist rhetoric grow without challenge, the country will continue to pay the price. I would welcome every citizen and politician to join me this year in ensuring that our nation’s future is bright, future-focused and prosperous. We will only achieve that if we come together, not pull apart in the face of adversity.
Incumbent Deputy for Niveri (2008-present) and former Deputy Prime Minister of Polasciana (2011-2019)